EPA Reports

Completed assessment reports are listed and summarised below and are available for download. Click the link to view and download archived reports.

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This report provides the advice and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to the Minister for Environment on the outcomes of the EPA’s environmental impact assessment of the proposal by Chevron Australia Pty Ltd to construct and operate the Gorgon Gas Development Fourth Train Expansion Proposal.

This report provides the advice and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority to the Minister for Environment on the key environmental factor and principles for the proposal by Kwinana Waste to Energy Co Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Phoenix Energy Australia Pty Ltd, to construct and operate a 400,000 tonnes per annum waste to energy plant and brick making facility on Lot 9500 Leath Road, Kwinana Beach.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Polaris Metals Pty Ltd for mining development on Banded Iron Formation (BIF) landforms of the Helena-Aurora Range. The development includes a two new mine pits, waste rock dumps, supporting mine infrastructure at each mine pit, and new connecting roads.

The Minister for Environment has requested (on 21 October 2014) that under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Tutunup South Mineral Sands Project.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act.

At its meeting of 11 December 2014 (Meeting No. 1071), the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) resolved pursuant to section 39B of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to declare the proposal to subdivide Lot 21 Alumina Road, East Rockingham to be a derived proposal. The EPA also resolved pursuant to section 46(4) of the EP Act to inquire into whether or not the implementation conditions relating to the derived proposal should be changed. The EPA also agreed that the report and recommendations be prepared and submitted to the Minister for Environment by the Chairman of the EPA under Delegation No. 25 dated 24 January 2012.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1535) to the Minister for Environment pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act.

The Minister for Environment has requested (on 12 November 2014) that, under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act), the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Kemerton Silica Sand Mining Proposal, Additional Mining Areas and Transfer of land for conservation proposal.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, to construct and operate an open cut iron ore mine and associated infrastructure for the extraction, processing and transport of iron ore. The proposal is located approximately 110 kilometres west-north-west of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Due to the number and size of appendices and attachments to the PER, they are available on request on CD. Please contact the Office of the EPA at info@epa.wa.gov.au or phone 6145 0974 with mailing details if you require a copy.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Limited for the expansion of mining development on the Mungada Ridge. The development includes a new mine pit, waste rock dump, processing plant and roads.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Hamersley Iron Pty Limited to revise the currently operating Brockman Syncline 4 Project. The operating project is comprised of an iron ore mine and associated infrastructure, located approximately 60 kilometres (km) west-north-west of Tom Price in the Pilbara region. All components of the operating Brockman Syncline 4 Project are currently authorised under Ministerial Statement 717.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Norwest Energy NL to undertake a 3D Seismic Acquisition Survey within exploration permit area EP413.

The Minister for Environment has requested (on 21 January 2014) that under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Albany Iron Ore Project – Southdown Magnetite Proposal. The proponent has requested an extension of the timeframe for substantial commencement for a further five years, to 25 November 2019.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1529) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act.

The Minister for Environment has requested (on 4 August 2014) that under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Keysbrook Mineral Sands Mine proposal. The proponent has requested an extension of the timeframe for substantial commencement for a further five years, to 19 October 2019.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the Western Australian Shark Hazard Mitigation Drum Line Program 2014-2017.

The proposal, by the Director General, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) on behalf of the State of Western Australia, involves the deployment of temporary and static drum lines within marine monitored areas between 15 November and 30 April each year for a period of three years, commencing 15 November 2014 and ceasing 30 April 2017. The proposal also includes the temporary deployment of drum lines in response to an identified shark threat or incident anywhere in State waters at any time of the year until 30 April 2017.

On 17 May 2013 the Minister for Environment requested that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on Eglinton Estates Pty Ltd proposed changes to the Implementation Conditions applicable to the Eglinton Beach Proposal.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to Section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Minister for Environment has requested on 29 May 2014 that under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Balla Balla Magnetite Mining Project.

The Minister for Environment has requested on 29 May 2014 that under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Yellowfin Tuna Aquaculture Trial, Zeewijk Channel, Abrolhos Islands.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Northern Minerals Limited to develop a rare earth elements mine and ore processing facility at Browns Range, approximately 160 kilometres south-east of Halls Creek in the Shire of Halls Creek.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Cameco Australia Pty Ltd to develop the Kintyre uranium mine and access road located 270 kilometres north-east of Newman. The proposal includes the construction of associated mine infrastructure, including mineral processing facilities, offices, accommodation and the discharge of waste to a Tailings Management Facility.

The Minister for Environment requested (in June 2013) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Pty Ltd’s proposal to consolidate the environmental conditions of the seven Ministerial Statements issued for their Yilgarn Operations.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1521) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Minister for Environment has requested (15 September 2010) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Roy Hill 1 Iron Ore Mining Project Stage 2 proposal (Statement 829).

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Minister for Environment has requested (15 September 2010) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Roy Hill 1 Iron Ore Mining Project Stage 1 proposal (Statement 824).

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal to construct, operate and maintain a 1.5 km long single carriageway from Skeet Road to Anstey Road, Forrestdale by the City of Armadale.

The Minister for Environment requested (28 April 2014) under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the 40 Megawatt Biomass Power Plant – Forest Lease No. 1994/97, approximately 10 kilometres south-west of Manjimup, Shire of Manjimup (Biomass Power Plant) proposal.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1517) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act.

This report provides the advice and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to the Minister for Environment on the key environmental factors and principles for the proposal by Image Resources NL, to develop and operate an open cut mineral sands mine located between 12 to 24 km to the north-west of the Gingin township. The proposal would involve mining and processing to produce heavy minerals concentrate.

The expected mine life is 5.5 years and it will involve disturbance of up to 400 ha within a 1,205 ha development envelope. The proposal would also include construction and operation of associated infrastructure (such as offices, workshops, fuel storage, roads, solar drying cells, and water bores), and a modification to the intersection of Brand Highway and Wannamal Road West.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by the Fortescue Metals Group Iron Bridge to develop the North Star Magnetite open cut iron ore mine and associated infrastructure 110 km south-south-east of Port Hedland. The proposal includes a borefield and adjoining water pipeline 160 km north-east of the mine site and a slurry corridor connecting the mine to facilities in Port Hedland.

This report provides the advice and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to the Minister for Environment on the key environmental factor and principles for the proposal by New Energy Corporation Pty Ltd to build and operate a Waste-to-Energy (WtE) and Materials Recovery Facility(MRF) on Lot 1 Office Road, three kilometres north-east of Rockingham in the Rockingham Industrial Zone.

The proposed facility will accept various wastes, recover materials which can be recycled via the MRF, and convert suitable remaining waste to electrical power in the WtE plant.

The Minister for Environment requested (21 January 2014) that the Environmental Protection Authority inquire into and report on the matter of changing the implementation conditions relating to the Cooljarloo Mine – Falcon Extension proposal.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Polaris Metals Pty Ltd to develop and operate the Jackson 4 (J4) proposal. The proposal is comprised of an iron ore mine and infrastructure on Mining Lease M77/1242, and haul road and accommodation camp on Miscellaneous Licenses L77/250, L77252 and L77/254 in the Goldfields region.

The Minister for Environment requested (15 May 2014) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of amending condition 3 of Ministerial Statement 796 to extend the ‘Time Limit of Authorisation’ relating to the Class II Landfill, Wannamal Road South, Cullalla, Shire of Gingin.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

On 29 July 2013 the Minister for Environment requested that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on the proposed changes to the implementation conditions applicable to the Port Geographe Development.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (no. 1509) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Minister for Environment requested that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on Robe River Mining Co. Pty. Ltd.’s proposed changes to the implementation conditions for the West Angelas Iron Ore Project.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

Summary: The Minister for Environment has requested (5 February 2013) that the Environmental Protection Authority inquire into and report on the matter of amending conditions 3-1 and 3-2 to extend the ‘Time Limit of Authorisation’ and condition to 9-3(2)(a) of Ministerial Statement 767 relating to the timing of the commencement of rehabilitation in the northern portion of Lot 2 Calinup Road, Gelorup. This report is the EPA's recommendations to the Minister.Status: FinalProponent: Cotton Holdings Pty LtdRelease Date: 2 April 2014No AppealsClick here to view the document (file type: Acrobat PDF file size: 202.2 KB)

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the revised proposal by Newmont Boddington Gold Pty Ltd to extend the operating life of the Newmont Boddington Gold Mine. The revised proposal includes the widening and deepening of the existing pits and construction of additional infrastructure including residue storage facilities and waste rock dumps.

Summary: This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Karara Mining Ltd to develop and operate an open pit iron ore mine and associated infrastructure approximately 76 kilometres north-east of Perenjori town site in the Midwest region of Western Australia.Status: FinalProponent: Karara Mining LtdRelease Date: 24 March 2014Appeals ClosedClick here to view the document (file type: Acrobat PDF file size: 1.15 MB)

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the strategic proposal by the Minister for Fisheries (the proponent) for the establishment of a 2,000 hectare aquaculture development zone within Cone Bay in the Kimberley.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations, to the Minister for Environment, on the proposal by Port Hedland Port Authority, the proponent, to develop and operate the Lumsden Point General Cargo Facility.

At its meeting of 22 January 2013 (Meeting No. 1060), the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) determined pursuant to section 39B of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to declare that the proposal to subdivide Lot 500 Patterson Road, East Rockingham is a derived proposal. The EPA also determined pursuant to section 46(4) of the EP Act to inquire into whether or not the implementation conditions relating to the proposal, or any of them, should be changed.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1502) to the Minister for Environment pursuant to section 46(6) of the EP Act in relation to whether or not the implementation conditions relating to the above proposal should be changed.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd to extend the mining of the existing approved Orebody 29, 30, and 35 operations located approximately seven kilometres west-south-west of Newman, in the Shire of East Pilbara, to below the watertable.

The Western Australian Planning Commission’s Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment 1188/57 proposes to rezone 70.37 hectares of land at Wellard East from ‘Rural’ to ‘Urban Deferred’ to facilitate urban development. The amendment will define the boundary between future urban development and Bollard Bulrush Swamp, which is protected under the Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy 1992 and mapped as a Conservation Category Wetland.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice to the Minister for Environment on the environmental factors, conditions and procedures relevant to Amendment 1188/57.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Chevron Australia Pty Ltd to clear an additional 32 hectares of land within a 36 hectare development envelope on Barrow Island.

The clearing is for the purposes of an additional construction laydown and operations support area, required to support the construction and operation of the Gorgon Gas Development referred to in Ministerial Statement 800 dated 10 August 2009 and Ministerial Statement 865 dated 8 June 2011.

The Minister for Environment has requested (20 August 2013) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of amending condition 7-1 and condition 7-2 of Ministerial Statement 899 to remove specific monitoring bore names and locations and refer to the Fortescue Marsh.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1498) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Minister for Environment has requested that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the Water Corporation’s proposed changes to the environmental conditions for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Stage 1 at Chugg Street, Walpole, Shire of Manjimup.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1497) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Iron Ore Holdings Ltd to develop and operate an open pit iron ore mine and associated infrastructure approximately 45 kilometres south-southeast of Pannawonica. The proposal includes below the watertable mine pits, haul roads, temporary waste rock dumps and processing facilities.

On 21 September 2011, Western Power, through the Minster for Energy, applied to the Minister for Environment for an approval under noise regulation 17 in relation to Western Power’s existing and future electrical distribution transformers.

The basis of the application was that the noise emissions from a large number of distribution transformers operated by Western Power do not comply with the assigned noise levels specified by the noise regulations, due to their proximity to noise sensitive premises.

The following is the EPA's Report and Recommendations (No. 1495) pursuant to regulation 17 of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (noise regulations).

The Minister for Environment has requested (22 October 2013) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report on the matter of amending Condition 5-2 of Ministerial Statement 852 to remove the clearing requirement for the S2 and W22 vegetation communities.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1494) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Minister for Environment has requested (7 October 2013) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on St Ives Gold Mining Company Pty Ltd’s proposed deletion of the implementation conditions and proponent commitments for the Gold Mine Developments on Lake Lefroy, 7 kilometres south-east of Kambalda.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1493) pursuant to Section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (the EP Act).

The Minister for Environment requested (18 October 2012) that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on proposed changes to the implementation conditions for the silica sand quarry at Gnangara.

The following is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1492) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).

This report provides the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal by Sorby Management Pty Ltd to develop a silver, lead and zinc mine with infrastructure and processing facilities approximately 50 kilometres (km) north of Kununurra with the concentrate transported by road and shipped through Wyndham Port.

The Minister for Environment requested on 5 November 2012 that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inquire into and report to the Minister on the proponent’s, Tronox Management Pty Ltd, proposed changes to the environmental conditions for the Chandala Synthetic Rutile Plant – Ministerial Statement 412.

This is the EPA’s Report and Recommendations (No. 1490) to the Minister pursuant to section 46(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

Advice of the Environmental Protection Authority to the Minister for Environment under Section 16(e) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986

On 16 November 2011, the Minister for Environment wrote to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Chairman of the Waste Authority, requesting that the two Authorities investigate the environmental and health performance of waste to energy technologies internationally.

This request sought information on:

legislation for the establishment and operation of waste to energy facilities, focussed on emissions, in jurisdictions where these facilities currently exist;

current emissions from established and operating best practice facilities; and

current and historical level of compliance of these facilities.

The Minister requested that the information gathered be from full-scale, commercial plants that process municipal solid waste (MSW) and from a variety of technology types.

To assist with this investigation, WSP Environment and Energy Ltd were engaged to undertake a technical review of waste to energy plants around the world. These technical reports are attached. The reports provide detailed information to address the issues identified by the Minister for Environment. This advice from the EPA and Waste Authority draws on the technical advice to make recommendations that are relevant to the Western Australian situation.